Turkey is one of the world’s most dynamic emerging market industrial economies with a rapidly expanding defence industry (ASELSAN, Roketsan, BMC Defence, FNSS), a large power generation sector (50+ GW of installed capacity with ambitious expansion targets), and a significant shipbuilding industry (Istanbul-area shipyards producing naval and commercial vessels). Turkey’s domestic forging industry centred in Bursa, Istanbul, and Ankara serves the automotive sector primarily, creating gaps in critical industrial forging categories where Indian manufacturers with AS9100D and API 20B certification can supply at competitive cost.
Turkey’s defence industry — now a top-15 global defence exporter produces the Altay main battle tank (BMC Defence), Kirpi and Cobra armoured vehicles (BMC), the ACV-15 (FNSS), and the MILGEM-class naval corvette (Istanbul Naval Shipyard). Turkey’s indigenisation programme (MILLI — National Systems) means Turkish defence procurement prioritises domestic supply, but components not yet domestically available including specialty alloy steel torsion bar forgings and naval propulsion shaft forgings are procured internationally. Indian AS9100D manufacturers with 45CrNiMoVA torsion bar capability and ABS naval survey capability are relevant suppliers.
Turkey’s power generation expansion — targeting 120 GW of total installed capacity by 2035, including 35 GW of new renewable and gas capacity is driving investment in new combined cycle power plants and renewable energy projects. Each new combined cycle plant requires steam turbine rotor disc and shaft forgings in CrMoV alloy steel. Turkish power generation turbines are supplied primarily by Siemens Energy, GE Vernova, and Mitsubishi Power whose supply chains include the forging procurement for these turbines.
BOTAS — Turkey’s state pipeline operator managing Turkey’s natural gas import and distribution infrastructure is expanding the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) system and building new LNG receiving terminals. Pipeline flanges and valve body forgings in API 20B certified materials are the primary forging procurement for these infrastructure expansions. BOTAS procurement follows API and ASME standards for pipeline equipment the same specifications as US and European pipeline operators.
Turkey’s shipbuilding industry — concentrated in the Istanbul straits area (Tuzla, Yalova) and Eregli – produces chemical tankers, container feeder vessels, yachts, and naval patrol craft. The Istanbul Shipyard (Halic) and ASFAT military yard produce naval vessels for the Turkish Navy. Commercial shipyards produce vessels classed by Bureau Veritas, Lloyd’s Register, and Türk Loydu (the Turkish classification society) all requiring classification survey of propulsion shaft and structural hull forgings.
45CrNiMoVA torsion bar forgings with yield >1,400 MPa for Turkish armoured vehicle programmes.
Alloy steel naval propulsion shaft forgings to 15,000 kg with BV Marine and Lloyd’s Register survey.
API 20B PSL 1–3 for BOTAS pipeline valve body and flange forgings.
CrMoV steam turbine rotor forgings for power generation OEM supply chains operating in Turkey.
NABL Charpy at -20°C for Turkish winter operating temperature requirements.
TPI by Bureau Veritas and DNV – both recognised by Turkish industrial buyers.
Ocean freight Chennai to Istanbul (Ambarlı port): 14–18 days a shorter route than European destinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.What is Turkey’s MILLI indigenisation programme and how does it affect forging procurement?+–
Turkey’s MILLI (National) defence procurement policy gives strong preference to domestically produced defence equipment and components the Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) requires that new defence programmes achieve specified local content percentages. For forging specifically, Turkey has several domestic forge shops (Çelikler, Borçelik) serving automotive and light industrial markets. However, specialty alloy steel forgings for defence applications torsion bars in 45CrNiMoVA, gear blanks in EN36, precision closed die structural components are not well-covered by Turkish domestic forge shop capability. These specialty categories represent the entry point for Indian manufacturers, as Turkish procurement teams seek qualified international sources for components their domestic industry cannot yet produce.
2.What is Türk Loydu and how does it relate to international classification society survey for Turkish shipbuilding?+–
Türk Loydu (TL) is Turkey’s national classification society it classifies Turkish-flagged vessels and some vessels built at Turkish shipyards. TL’s rules are aligned with IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) standards and TL is an IACS associate member. For Turkish commercial shipyard production, buyers can choose TL classification or an international society (BV, Lloyd’s, DNV). For naval vessels, the Turkish Navy applies its own specifications through ASFAT (Defence Industry Logistics Command). Indian forging manufacturers with BV Marine or Lloyd’s Register survey approval supply Turkish shipbuilding programmes under those international classification schemes TL’s own survey is less commonly specified for international commercial vessel orders.
3.What TANAP pipeline expansion creates and why does it matter for Indian forging manufacturers?+–
The Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) carries Azerbaijani gas from Georgia across Turkey to the European border – 1,850 km of pipeline serving both the Turkish domestic market and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) export to Italy. BOTAŞ is expanding TANAP capacity and developing new LNG import terminals (Dörtyol, Aliağa). Each LNG terminal requires cryogenic service flanges (SA-182 F304L) and valve body forgings (4130M for non-cryogenic, F304L for cryogenic) in API 20B quality. The TANAP expansion procurement flows through Turkish engineering contractors (Kalyon, Limak, Alarko) who hold BOTAS EPC contracts — Indian manufacturers qualify through these Turkish contractor approved supplier lists rather than directly with BOTAŞ.
4.How does Turkey’s position as a NATO member affect defence forging procurement from India?+–
Turkey’s NATO membership means its armed forces apply NATO STANAG standards for equipment interoperability — which provides a common reference framework for Turkish defence forging specifications alongside Turkish national standards (TSE). India is not a NATO member but is a Major Defence Partner of the United States and has defence cooperation agreements with several NATO members including France, UK, and Germany. Turkish defence procurement from India does not face the same ITAR complications as US defence programmes Turkish defence forgings are governed by Turkish export regulations and EU dual-use regulations where applicable, not US ITAR. This makes the Indian-Turkish defence supply chain relationship less administratively complex than Indian-US defence supply.
5.What is the India-Turkey trade relationship and are there import duties on Indian forgings entering Turkey?+–
India and Turkey do not have a comprehensive free trade agreement. Turkish import duty on steel forgings from India is governed by Turkey’s customs tariff typically 3–9% for alloy steel forgings under the GTİP (Turkish tariff code system), with rates varying by alloy composition and forging category. Turkey has a customs union with the EU for industrial goods, meaning EU-origin forgings enter Turkey duty-free while Indian forgings pay the standard MFN rate. Despite this duty disadvantage versus European supply, Indian forging manufacturers’ ex-works cost advantage (typically 25–35% below European) more than offsets the Turkish import duty delivering a competitive landed price in Istanbul of 15–25% below equivalent European supply.
